Beverage brewer and filter



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INVENTOR. /afr' Ma 674 E627 j i 4 i 34 Z5 fmf/ devices for `use therewith. .A k e if j ellarifyIl.-Wallner;lrlcagojllll` ehslhthuhlw 19431585451 l '1- 1eoreille.V (c1. ssn-WLMV ",.nfeeee eigegiiee mujeres V,fle

` 1This` invention frelates to beverage l brewers of the vacuumy type, `and more` particularlyrto iilter `It isan object,oftheinventiontoprovide a lbeverage brewer ofthe vacuumtypesuch as `for collec and the like, and -associated ilter devices, of improved; construction and operating .characteristics. More speciilcallystatedht is an yobject of the invention tov provide aillterarrangement fior beverage brewers of, the type defined which will effect an insured and more complete filtering action on the beverage mix, whereby to effectively separate the brewed liquid `from, thez grounds and other solid matter.

i A rurtherebjeet ef une inventions te provide; an improved illter for usein devices of the class Y defined, whichillter willeilectan insured and adequate filtering action onthe brewed mix,-but

" which employs no metal or cloth and can `beniade entirely of glass or porcelain or other desired-ma.-

A still furtherobject of ,the inventionis to pro- ""vide a filter unit for devices of the type .denecL which lter unitcomprises -a valve portion and a lter or strainer portion, the `*valve portion be-n` ingoperablehto permit the ready passage of liquid n through the unit Vin onev direction, and the lter or strainer portion being operable to eil'ect an insured and adequate filtering action upon the l liquid during its passage throughthe unit in the` oppositedirection. Y

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will beapparentlgfrom the following specicationwhenrtaken in `connection with the accompanying drawinmwherein a lpreferred embodiment of the inventionis set forth for pulPOSeS l' illustration.` Y-

In the drawing, wherein like reference numer-l als refer to like parts throughout: i i i Y liig. 1 is a general assembly view, partly insection, of a. beverage brewer, `for coffee and the .Y like, `constructed in accordance `with the principles of the invention,and embodyingthe filter unitthereoi'; Y l l Fig. `2 is alpartial detail sectional view, on an enlarged scale,I of` the structure of Fig. 1 and taken as indicated by the line 2-2itherepf;

i Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectionallview `of the structure `of`liig..2, on thelinet-S` thereof;

Fig.`4 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe strainer nements ef the tuner unit; and

Fig. 511s aperspective view `of the complete iilter unit, readyfforapplicationto and use `with the brewer bowls or containers. A i

. ,WE. 1 of i the e type5 adapted n for.. the lforewirlf; j ci c oiiee n andthe likeisfillustrated, compri p A `chhihihh01' bhwl member-.l0 andazlewrf Qon- VAi-,ainer orbowl memberyll. V'Ijvhe :uppenbowl-,has

l Ved! ,to VVproject; through 4the" nec bwllto a ostuni-aducen@themwmhtferm `portion Il,Y ci the lowerebowl. .Aplgasket member `lltof @rubber brother Suitable mfrialcmbrces the dependingltube `adjacentits` upper portion) as shown, and is normallysupportedby and interin Fiss. ,l and` 2; thisfsasket hember.; iS

i adapted te `ferm an air erle liquid-tight eeeibetween the container bowls, i; -fl'he c lower` VVbowl i is also `provided `with a., handle. lIB secured to, the

`havn neck ,by -Sutablefmeans sueltasan,I annular bband Ilv embracingfthe bowllneclr` anni secured to AAffiner unit, generally imiieeveeciby thelmimber Y "e is; adapted to .lhet llllpel howl., in engagement with ahdi-supportedhv the depending tube [Z Y. thereof.` vAs-will,A be undersfoomhis filter' um@ is'` hearted, totem. the supl port for the grounds?! of '.foileeiorijlhleylilre placed into` the upper bowlwiienfthe structurels in use. The filter unit is also adaptedlo Delmit the; liquid 22,in\the;1ower bozwltopassfupwardly into the upper bowl,. and into contactwith the coffee sumada` as heat isapplied tofthe lower hawlfin f the4 usual manner, and thereafter to permit the return of 4the ,brewed liquid into :the lower bowl,

Ivo-onicflillye filter unit comprises @general shaped lowerfmemberll, aiseries, ofdiscs 2li, Q21 and@ arranged-in superposedg.relationfupongthe -4 A ,lower conical member, and. a, central; stem 29 o adapted to`v extend vertically through alinediholes 1 in the discs-and insaid lowerconicalmember 24.

The ,Chival member; ,2l-hase inventer. peripheral suriace shaped. t0 fCOhfQrm accuratelyiftotthe curvature ofthe depending-tube llahthempper bowl. member, the. outer. surfvacegjof `the conical .fnltefmemberyalso beine euitablyeroueheeeeee v indicated, whereby" to; provide' a A multiplicity Aof L restricted illtering 1 passages, "as, indicated, at" I0, Fig. 2,` between the filter lnelbel and the tube: `l2

`when y the `lter is in 3-pperative position.` gj-This v roughening ot= therouter surface ,of the conical filter` member may be suitably electedlasthe illter i member `,is molded ,or formed,` -theffiilter member preferably ,being ot classer:` porcelain, or` certain Referring more'specitflcally to the drawing," and` 55 types i of plastics `or other,suitablefmaterialzmay flanges.

be used, if desired. As best shown in Fig. 4, the several discs 25, 26, 21 and 28 are also suitably roughened both on their outer peripheral surfaces 3| and on their flat surfaces 32 and 33 whereby to provide a series of filtering passages 34, 35, 36 and 31 between the discs and between the lowermost l lar to that of the conical filter member 24.

The discs 21 and 28 are slightly larger than the discs 25 and 26, the disc 21 being sized for cooperation with the flange portion 40 of the upper bowl, and the disc 25 being sized for cooperation with the bowl flange portion 4|. It is intended that the filter unit may be insertable freely into the upper bowl and into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and accordingly a tight flt is not contemplated between the discs and the bowl manufacturing tolerances, is contemplated whereby to provide additional filter passages as indicated at 42 and 43, which filter passages coop- Aerat'e with the other filter passages provided in the unit in effecting the desired filtering action upon the brewed liquid. The relatively close t between the discs and the bowl flanges 40 and 4| also aids in centering and maintaining the lter unit in proper supported position.

The central stem member 29 comprises an upper handle portion 45, a valve portion 46, a stem portion 41 adapted to extend loosely through the alined central openings in the discs and in the conical vfilter member 24, and "a lowermost enlarged or ball portion 48 formed on the lower end of the stem portion 41. The valve portion 46 and the ball portion 48 are both sufficiently large so that theyA cannot be passed through the alined openings in the discs and in the filter member 24. However, the ball and valve portions are sufficiently spaced apart', or stated another way, the

stem portion 41 is of sulcient length with respect to thelength of the filter member 24 ando! the four superposed discs, so as to permit the stem 29 to have a` limited vertical movement with respect to the filter members.

The stem member 29 is preferably formed of V one piece molded structure, and may be formed of a material similar to that of the filter discs 25, 26, 21 and 28, and the conical filter member 24. The valve' portion 46 of the stem is preferably v'smooth whereby to form valve contact with the upper surface of the disc 28, as indicated at 50 in Fig. 2, an accurate and relatively fluid-tight fit between the valve and the disc at the point 50 However, a relatively close lit, withinv In operation, as the lower bowl or container is subiectedtoheat, the vapor pressure formed therein forces the liquid 22 from the lower bowl into the upper bowl I and into contact with the coffee grounds 2l therein. Free and relatively unrestricted upward passage of the liquid is permitted through the relatively unrestricted central annular conduit V| and past the valve seat 50, the valve member 46 and associated stem being raised by fluid pressure to permit the relatively unrestricted upward uid ow.' After the liquid has been commingled with the grounds 2| and upon the removal of heat from the lower bowl, the

, vacuum formed therein draws the brewed beverage downwardly into the lower bowl. In this downward passage of the liquid the valve 46 is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, thereby closing the valve seat 58. Accordingly the liquid is caused, during its downward flow, to pass through the various'parallel filtering passages 34, 35, 36 and 31, and through the filtering passages 42, 43

I and 38 to effect a filtering action upon the brewed being contemplated when the'parts arev in the position shown.

The loose extension of the. stem portion 41 through the alined openings in the discs and'ln the conical filter member 24 forms a central annular opening 5I extending vertically through the filter u nit. The conical filter member 24, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5, is provided with a series of generally radially extending passages 52 and 53 communicating with this central annular passage 5|. In the particular embodiment illustrated there are four such radial passages 52, and four passages 53, see Fig. 3, The inner ends of the passages are shaped as indicated at 54 and 55, Fig. 2, so that liquid descending through the annular passage 5| tends to be caught by and flow outwardly through the passages 52 and 53.

liquid, separating the liquid from the grounds 2| and other solid foreign matter, It will be seen that the filter unit is thus composed of two parts including a valve 46 which shifts to permit the relatively unrestricted upward flow of the liquid, and thereafter closes, and the several filter elements 24, 25, 26, 21 and 23 which do not shift and which are maintained in position to effect a proper filtering action upon the liquid during its downward flow.

It will be seen that a plurality of parallel flltering passages are provided whereby to increase the filtering capacity of the unit, but at the same time each filtering passage is sufficiently extended and may be made sufficiently restricted so that an adequate filteringV action is obtained. In this connection it will be noted that the liquid which passes through the filtering passages 434, 35, 36 and 31, and thereafter flows downwardly through the annular channel 5| is in the main caught and passed outwardly through channels 52 and 53 and thereafter subjected to the further filtering action .Of the relatively elongated filtering passage 30. The members ,24, 25, 26, 21 and 28 forming the filtering elements of the unit are `always mits the use of a twoepart structure comprising the valve 46 on the one hand and the several filters or strainer elements 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28 on the other, and also permits the use of the several parallel filter flow paths for they liquid.

In-the event that the upstanding handle portion of the stem is inadvertently struck as the coffee is stirred, any tendency to disturb the proper justaposition of the filter surfaces is minimized by reasonV of the \relatively close fit between the discs 21 and 25 and the juxtaposed bowl fianges 40 and 4I, as well as by the fit of the conical filter member 24 into the funnel shaped tube l2 of the upper bowl. At the same time the filter unit is freely removable as a unit by means of the handle 45 from the bowl I0,

and upon removal, due to the spacing between the valve 50 and the ball 48, the several filter or strainer elements 24, 25, 26, 21 and 28 are readily separable within limits to permit rinsing and cleaning operations.

The entire lter unit may be constructed of the desired material best suited to facilitate flavor in the particular beverage to be brewed. For example, in the brewing of coffee, the entire filter unit may preferably be constructed of glass orw porcelain. The use of metal and cloth is thus avoided, and there are no parts to wear out requiring replacement, or no parts to become contaminated. In the brewing of other beverages different preferred materials may be selected including metal if it were to be desired in any particular instance. Y

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiments set forth for purposes of illustration without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly the invention is not to be limited to the specic embodiments shown and described, but only asindicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows;

1. A lter unit for use with beverage brewers of the type comprising two superposed and interconnected container bowlsl for liquid, the upper bowl having a conically-shaped tube extending into the lower bowl, said filter unit being adapted to be disposed between the interconnected bowls, and said filter unit comprising a ironically-shaped lter member arranged to interfit with said conical tube, and a filter disc disposed on the conically-shaped filter member in superposed relation, a filter passage for liquid being formed between the contacting surfaces of the disc and conically-shaped member.

2. A filter unit for use with beverage brewers of the type comprising two interconnected container bowls for liquid, said filter unit being adapted to be disposed between the interconnected bowls, and said filter unit comprising a plurality of superposed relatively shiftable parts, there being filter passages for liquid disposed between the contacting surfaces of said parts and along the outer periphery of at least one of said parts between said part and one of the container bowls, said-parts also being formed with a vertical passage extending collectively therethrough, an elongated stem member in said passage, said stem member having means thereon for limiting the relative separation of said parts and for closing said passage.

3. A beverage brewer comprising an upper container bowl and a lower container bowl adapted to be disposed in superposed relation, the upper container bowl having a generally conicallyshaped tube extending into the lower container bowl to a position adjacent the lower portion thereof, and a lter unit adapted to be disposed within said conically-shaped tube, said filter unit comprising a conically-shaped member 'to conform with the shaping of said tube, said conicallyshaped member and tube forming filter passages therebetween, a disc member mounted on the.

conically-shaped member forming additional filter passages along the upper surface of said conically-shaped member, and a rod extending through substantially centrally disposed openings in the disc member and conically-shaped member, said rod being formed with positive abutment means for limiting the separation of said disc member and said conically-shaped member.

4. A filter unit as defined in claim 1 wherein additional discs are provided in superposed relation upon said first mentioned filter disc providing additional liquid filter passages.

5. A filter unit as defined in claim. 1 wherein said conically-shaped filter memberl and said lter disc are provided with aligned openings,

and wherein a rod is arranged Within said openings, said rod being provided with abutment means for limiting the separation of the filter disc and said conically-shaped filter member.

6. A filter unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said conically-shaped filter member and said filter disc 'are provided with aligned openings, and wherein a rod is arranged within said openings, said rod being provided with an upstanding handle portion and abutment means for limiting the separation of the filter disc and said conicallyshaped lter member.

HARRY B. WOLPER. 

